TONY DODSON'S chance to silence Carl Froch could be in jeopardy due to the intervention of an old friend.

TONY DODSON'S chance to silence Carl Froch could be in jeopardy due to the intervention of an old friend.

Dodson's former sparring partner and previously undefeated British super-middleweight champion Matthew Barney this week put out a challenge to Commonwealth king Froch with a #100,000 side bet issued to Froch's promoter Mick Hennessey.

The 30 year-old WBU light-heavyweight champion from Southampton, who trained alongside Dodson (right) at the Lennox Lewis Academy during the Garston Warrior's 18-month stint in London four years ago, is hoping to leapfrog the injured current British 12-stone champ to get a shot at Froch first.

"This is definitely a genuine offer," said Barney, who has just returned from an eight week trip to Toronto in Canada.

"Between me and my family we will put the money up. There is no way he (Froch) can beat me. I'm that confident I will win, have you seen Froch fight?

"He (Froch) has had good management so far. He has been able to prepare for his fights with plenty of notice and been able to pick and choose his opponents. I have never been able to do that."

Barney has already been offered the Froch fight recently but turned it down. He was approached to replace Dodson when the Lonsdale belt holder was forced to pull out of a title defence against the Nottingham man on June 2 due to a car crash, but Barney was not ready to take such an important fight at such short notice.

"I was away in Canada at the time and offered the fight at less than a week's notice," explained Barney.

"I was weighing 12st 10 pounds at the time and was not prepared to lose 10 pounds in a week having not been in proper training."

Instead, Froch stepped in against Mark Woolnough before forcing an 11th round stoppage of the Canadian champion in the first successful defence of his Commonwealth crown.

With Barney eager to return to action after becoming frustrated at not having fought since outscoring Portsmouth's Tony Oakey for the WBU title in October 2003, Dodson's aim to unify his and Froch's titles would take a different path should Barney overcome Carl if the fight gets the green light.

However, as Barney has already avoided Dodson once in the pro-ranks as he opted to step up to light-heavyweight instead of making a mandatory defence of his British super-middle title against the tough Scouser last October, Tony's knowledge of Barney's spoiling style could see this as the easier match for him.

"I'm totally confident of winning the fight and bringing the British title back to Liverpool," said Dodson before Barney vacated the title last year.

"I was 19 when we used to spar together a couple of years ago. I was too strong for him then and I was just a boy. Now I'm a man."

Meanhwile, Dodson is back in training following the car accident that ruled him out against Froch last month.

The damaged vertebrae he sustained in the crash is healing well and the champion is stepping up his fitness regime after taking his first road run without discomfort this week.